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editor letter
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illains come in many forms. Some are the blatantly evil ones common in Disney fairy tales. Others appear as friendly heros, immediately coming to mind is the queen from Narnia and even the most recent prince from Frozen, Hans. Some may even be unintentional villains who just lack the love of the Disney heroines. Although evil is, well, evil, those characters are often my favorite. They battle the good in themselves and in others and their personalities are as expressive as their extreme physicalities. Just take a look at the sketches of Cruella De Vil in the VM Feature. Her exaggerated features and bony structure makes for the perfect fashionista. Now look at Maleficent played by Angelina Jolie. Her malice is empowering and her beauty commands a room. These evil characters are the ying to the protagonist’s yang. One could not work without the other and they make the stories interesting. It’s the same as watching a scary movie. Yes, they terrify me but there’s a thrill and excitement when things pop out at you. And, truth be told, it’s a little fun to be bad. Everyone has a bad side and this issue of AEI shows you all the ways to be good and bad at the same time. And to have fun with it. Why not try some apple pie with a twist? Give into your curiosity and have a drink at The Rabbit Hole. Learn how to create a powerful and dynamic villain with the Wannabe Animator. Let out the spooks and read the original press release for The Haunted Mansion. Read the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians tale.
If that’s not enough, see the beauty that can be found in the mischievous mermaids of the sea, Cruella De Vil, and the fascinating lady behind the Shadow Man. It’s good to be a little bad. So indulge on your next shopping trip, buy something you will only wear once, and eat a little more chocolate. A little bad can be good, so go ahead and let out your inner Queen of Hearts or Captain Hook. Keep in mind, I’m not telling you to go rob a bank or anything. But perfection is boring and overrated. It’s okay to make mistakes, have a little sass, and let out the powerful edge of your inner villain. As an intern for Disney, I’ve learned that the most interesting characters to animate, design, and play with are the villains. The heroes and heroines can only be good and manipulated so much. The antagonist can have moments of joy and fits of rage. Their expressions are more extreme and their dress is often more exciting. The Beautifully Disney Snow White and Evil Queen collection is just one example of the beauty that can be found with a touch of evil. Hopefully the Villain Issue of AEI will show you the same. So delve into the Villain Issue and enjoy the allure and dangers of evil.
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SPRING
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EDITOR LETTER
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MASTHEAD
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CONTRIBUTORS
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VINTAGE MICKEY
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SIRENS OF THE SEA
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HEY MICKEY
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MARY COSTA INTERVIEW
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PRINCESAS DE LOS MUERTOS
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COMICS
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CRUELLA DE VIL
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LOOK AHEAD
EDITOR IN CHIEF HAILEY NOWAK
VM Travel THE RABBIT HOLE VM Food CALIZONA VM Style WESTEAST MAGAZINE VM Feature WANNABEANIMATOR VM Attraction DAD LOGIC//DiSNEY ARCHIVE Hey Mickey DISNEY WORLD FORUM Mary Costa Interview LEWIS CARROLL//IRENE LEE
MARY COSTA
Illustration HAILEY NOWAK Writer RENATA JOY
SIRENS OF THE SEA
Photography HAILEY NOWAK Styling HAILEY NOWAK Model HANNAH NOWAK//LYNDEA BAUMBERGER// MCKENNA BROWNELL Comic Strip COMIC ART FANS
CRUDELIA DE MON
Photography HAILEY NOWAK Styling VANESSA KINDER Model HANNAH NOWAK
LOOK AHEAD
Infographic HAILEY NOWAK
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contributors hannah nowak
Hannah has a list of talents as long as her legs from modeling to surfing to running to fashion. this young passionate soul hopes to one day work as an Imagineer for Disney. Hannah is not only the sister of the creator of AEI but the youngest contributor, a sophomore at San Clemente High School. Not only did Hannah help produce the identity of the magazine but her influence is also seen throughout the pages particularly as a model in the Sirens and Cruella De Vil shoot. u
vanessa kinder
Vanessa is an amazing make-up artist who inspired the Cruella De Vil photoshoot by showcasing her magical talents throughout the shoot. Her beauty experience came in handy when giving model Hannah a dramatic makeover. Vanessa was also the location coordinator and her shabby-chic slash skull and crossbones flair is evident in the details of the Cruella De Vil shoot. Look out, for this will not be the last time Vanessa will be a particularly talented contributor to AEI. u
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TRAVEL
THE RABBIT HOLE The Rabbit Hole is everything you would come to expect from a local bar. Wander through and you will see up close as oppose to afar. We are so much more than just a bar…we mix and brew…we taste and drink…concocting delectable cocktails at your behest that would make you think. What a lovely little bar. So with a pinch of this, a dibble-dabble of that…and a twist of this. Pinky in the air as we toast with our cups…clink clink…Come as our guests and leave as dear friends. It’s our version of a tea party. So why don’t you grace us with your presence and come on in!
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FOOD
Almond Whole Wheat Crust 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour (or White) 3/4 Cup Ground Almonds 1/2 Cup Salted Butter 1 Tablespoon Beet Sugar 1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg Powder 1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt 1/4 Cup Ice Water Apple Filling 4 Fuji Apples 1/4 Cup Salted Butter 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup 2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice 1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg Powder 1/4 Teaspoon All Spice Pinch of Sea Salt
Instructions for the crust: Grind the Almonds in a food processor in to small crumb size. Add flour, sugar & salt In a food processor, pulse to combine And 1/4 inch piece of butter. Pulse a few times to evenly break up the butter then add ice water slowly as you pulse, until it resembles a coarse meal with tiny pieces of butter. It will be crumbly but holds together when squeezed with fingers. Do not over process. Form dough into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes or over night. Instructions for the apple filling Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. In a large sauce pan add the butter, maple syrup, lemon juice and spices and stir on low heat until butter is melted then stir the flour and the apples, coat evenly. Set aside. Pre-heat oven to 375. On a piece of parchment paper roll out the dough to a 12 in circle adding a tiny bit of flour on top so it wont stick and pinch together any cracks. Take out about a 1/4 of the apples to arrange on top (this is optional, you can just pour the whole filling in the middle and leave it natural). Fill the center with the apple filling leaving 2 – 21/2 inches around and carefully fold over the crust edges. I use a large knife to lift and fold the edges over. The dough will crack from the fold a little, just pinch it together. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until lightly golden. from CaliZona
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STYLE
Minju Kim
o celebrate our beloved and iconic Minnie Mouse, Disney partnered with five young designers in Belgium to create Maison Minnie Mouse, modeled by top Belgian model, Amélie Lens. A line of edgy designers interpreted her legacy for this current exhibition at MoMu Fashion Museum Antwerp through 20th April, 2014. Despite her appearance in almost the same outfit on the silver screen, Minnie, as well as her iconic hairdo and the obsession with polka dots, has been a muse for many designers and has inspired fashion collections and catwalks from Paris to New York. African designer Suzaan Heyns graced the runway of South Africa Fashion Week with a collection inspired by Minnie Mouse last year. In London Fashion Week 2012, a special campaign ‘The Minnie Mouse Must Haves’ united designers of all styles, from Richard Nicoll to Giles Deacon, for a charity eBay auction. “Minnie Mouse and her unique style continue to inspire fans across the world,” said The Walt Disney Company fashion and home vice president Marc Low during the show. To take this rage to new levels, MoMu invited five young designers who have graduated from Belgian fashion colleges to design a new look for Minnie; and these versatile designs, futuristic and dreamy, are now installed in the hallway of the prestigious fashion museum. These designers include Damien Ravn, Doriane Van Overeem, Emmanuelle Lebas, KRJST and the H&M Design Award-winning Minju Kim. Take a look at what these creative fashion designers created.
Doriane Van Overeem
from WestEast Magazine
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Damien Ravn
Emmanuelle Lebas
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FEATURE
WANNABE ANIMATOR Tumblr, animation and Disney just seem to go hand in hand. This tumblr account has such beautiful and inspirational sketches we just wanted to give you a chance to enjoy it. Here are a few FAQ Jinny Hinkle has provided for you....
drawing before. There’s that saying in writing that you write what you know, and well, the same goes for drawing, so look for new things and expand your knowledge of your surroundings! You never know when inspiration’s going to hit. But don’t try to force a style upon yourself. You’ll find it.
Do you have any advice on how to start designing/ creating an appealing character?
How do I get started?
Appeal can be very much “in the eye of the beholder,” but that’s not say there aren’t some principles we can all agree on. Things to focus on are line quality, straights v.s. curves (line style/variety), proportion, and shape. Freddie Moore, who supervised the dwarves in Snow White, is known for his appealing drawings. Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston even said he was huge influence on the overall Disney style. The Freddie Moore Girl. Freddie didn’t really have a formula; it’s just how he drew. So, creating appeal can be hard to figure out, especially if it doesn’t come as naturally to us as it might to someone like Fred Moore. But we can look at what we think are appealing characters and try to pull something from them. How to discover your own art style? I know this is probably something you don’t want to hear, but it’s what all of the artists in this thread are saying— your style finds you. As animators we have to be able to emulate the style of the production, so sometimes a unique style isn’t as important. Look at these two drawings. One character, two animators. The first was done by Milt Kahl and the second by Ollie Johnston. Of course we admire artists with really unique styles. Nico Marlet is a perfect example. He really got noticed after his work on How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda. There are always going to be the artists with a style like no other, and the ones who can emulate anything they come across. And I really wish there were more I could say to help, but style is hard to break down. I really feel like I’m leaving you hanging, so I’ll end with this: This is a tough spot you’re in, and my advice is to experiment. Try new approaches, draw things you’ve never even thought about
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If you go to a good college with good professors, they’ll teach you everything you need to know about animation, no prior knowledge required. However, it never hurts to teach yourself a little bit. As for applying—your portfolios should have life drawings, both human and animal. Some colleges like you to send in a sketchbook with your portfolio. Other things that could help you are caricatures, illustrations, etc. You really don’t need animations in your portfolio for college, but if you’ve got any you think are good enough for submission, you should send it in! Or since it sounds like none of you have really started making any yet, you could attempt to. If you’re
wondering what kind of animation to submit in your portfolio to college, a good exercise would be rough animation to sound (similar to what they do at the 11 second club)—it doesn’t need to be fully finished or even have full lip syncs. You should focus first and foremost on the acting; making your character move and emote. So, you want to animate but you’re not sure how to start? I want you to read through these blogs and absorb what they tell you. The Animator’s Survival Kit A System for Planning and Timing Animation Timing for Animation The Illusion of Life Free Animation Software Pencil PAP 4.0 Blender Schools for Animation
end of the world if you don’t have any animations in your portfolio. Skill in animation takes time; focus on learning your foundations—drawing, painting, design. Animation is iterative; it might take you five ball bounce exercises before you get it right, so don’t give up, just keep practicing. How do I keep my characters consistent? Model Sheets are usually the go to answer—you can easily go back to it to check proportions and shapes. Maquettes are also really helpful with that, especially when working with a tough angle. It’s a lot easier if you break the character down into basic shapes. We animate shapes. And when squashing and stretching, it’s easier to maintain the volume if you know it as a simple shape. But also—the more you draw the character, the more natural it is, and easier. So draw, draw, draw! Hopefully that’ll help you with your animation. • from wannabeanimator.tumbr.com
So, my suggestion to those of you who’re applying to college for animation: Build a strong portfolio with life drawings and work you’re most proud of. Read those books I suggested and practice the exercises in them. It’s not the
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ATTRACTION
Haunted Mansion
PRESS RELEASE T
his is the original press release Disneyland issued in 1969 to announce the grand opening of the Haunted Mansion. For
nostalgia sake, it is fun to read how Disneyland described the attraction back in the day. Iconic items like Madame Leota, the ballroom organist, and the hitchhiking ghosts get the appropriate mentions. But other characters, like the headless guardsman and the dueling portraits get equally prominent mentions.
from Dad Logic
DISNEYLAND’S HAUNTED MANSION SEARCHES FOR OCCUPANT 1,000 Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion residents are the most disappointed ghouls in the nether world. There are 999 highly active spirits in the spooky abode. They’ve been hoping to grab Occupant No. 1,000 from those daredevil mortals who brave the adventure. But they’ve missed! As determined as they are unearthly, the ghastly group has firm plans to get No. 1,000. And every Disneyland guest is fully eligible. As many as 2,616 mortals can travel through the Mansion each hour in an endless chain of two-passenger “Doom Buggies.” Through a labyrinth of cobwebbed halls, pitch-black corridors, creepy attic and misty graveyard, guests can see or “feel” the presence of such mysterious spirits as Madame Leota and the headless guardsmans. In the ancestral Picture Gallery, guests sink into oblivion beneath a silently disappearing ceiling which hides a ghoulish surprise. Ghosts are discovered in such inviting environments as the Corridor of Haunted Portraits, Endless Hallway, Corridor of Doors and the dreadful Conservatory. They’re dancing to haunting melodies in the stone-cold gloom of the Grand Hall, popping out of dusty trunks in the gabled Attic and cavorting along the marble paths of the surprising Graveyard of restless spirits. The Haunted Mansion’s skeleton staff is headed by a Ghost Host, whose mysterious voice accompanies those who dare the journey through this frightfully entertaining adventure. Other flesh tingling experiences await the brave in the runaway Clock Hall, the spirit-filled Seance Circle and finally the hitchhikers Crypt. Fanciful portraits change before guests’ eyes to stark, decaying art works, an operatic troubador with hat (and head) in hand sings a ghostly refrain while baying hounds take up the chorus. Adding to the bedlam are fluttering bats, a phantom organist, ghosts that materialize and disappear at will, marble statuses that come to life and nerve-jangling sounds that defy description. From its first terror-striking whisper to the eerie melody of “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” the Haunted Mansion keeps its promise as a delightfully dreary adventure for every age. Designed over a period of more than ten years by WED Enterprises, the Disney architectural, engineering research and “Imagineering” division, The Haunted Mansion cost $7 million. Disneyland’s total capital investment is more than $150 million.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAILEY NOWAK Not all mermaids are as friendly and na誰ve as Ariel. Those from Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean prove otherwise by being mischievous and, for the latter, even downright villainous. These mermaids surfaced for a rare beach adventure on the shores of Atlantis in the Bahamas.
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I have a 3 year old who loves pirates, but I am worried that the Pirates of the Caribbean ride might be too scary for him. What do you suggest? - Christen Hi Christen - This is a difficult question to answer, because every child is different. My son has gone on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride both as a two-year old and a three-year old, and wasn’t scared at all. However, my four-year old daughter was scared. So it really depends on your son. Perhaps start out with some of the pirate characters. You can take a peek in the Pirates League to see if he’s scared of that environment. Also try to see Captain Hook to see if he’s afraid of him. Ultimately, you’ll really have to make the decision once you are down there. I hope that helps!
My son will be 19 months old when our family visits Disney. Will Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, & Snow White’s Scary Adventure be too scary for him? He has 2 older brothers so he doesn’t scare easily! Any advice? - Colleen from NY You never know exactly how kids are going to react. I would recommend starting out with Peter Pan’s Flight and see how he does. Before you go on Pirates of the Caribbean tell your son that it will get really dark for a minute and there will be a drop. If you think he will be scared by the complete darkness of the ride, you may want to bring a small light up toy.
I get scared really easily. I hate when things pop out at you! Is the Haunted Mansion really scary? I thought it might not be that bad because it’s Disney and there are tons of little kids. - Angelica from NY I’d really suggest looking at some of the videos of the attraction on youtube.com (just search for Haunted Mansion Disney World). The ones that are 7 -10 minutes (the entire ride/ pre-show is about 10 minutes) will have the ride captured well for you to judge for yourself if you’ll feel comfortable to try it out. If it helps, once my son decided to ride it, we brought along an iPod so he could close his eyes and listen to other music if he was scared. We also rode during the day the first time for him.
We have two children 4 & 2 and we were wondering if the Fantasmic show is scary for that age. Our 4 year old get scared easily and we want to make sure she will not get too scared. - Bryan from NC Honestly as wonderful as Fantasmic is, it can be a bit scary for preschoolers. Mickey encounters many of the Disney villains and parts of it are frightening. Of course, Mickey and the “good guys” win in the end and she’d only be looking at the villains from a distance...but it has been known to scare little ones (including my own). In the interest of avoiding any tears, I’ll give you ideas on what you may want to avoid. The Sea Witch makes an appearance in the Ariel show, just prepare her ahead of time that Ursula loses just like in the movie. The Beauty & the Beast show follows the story line of the movie (some scary parts). However, my daughters have always loved it. “Snow White’s Scary Adventures” lives up to it’s name. The wicked queen is seen several times. It follows the story line of the movie. Captain Hook is on the Peter Pan ride. Avoid Haunted Mansion for the ghosts and overall scary theme. Avoid “It’s Tough To Be a Bug” if she doesn’t like bugs. That’s all of the “scary” things that I can think of. For the most part, Disney is filled with pretty Princesses, lovable characters and happy heroes. Hope this helps and have a Magical vacation!
I am taking my nephew with me and my son this summer to Disney. He is terrified of Chucky Cheese so I am thinking he might be scared of the characters in park, any ideas on how I can cure him of this before August 2010? - Sonia from SC I know the feeling. I have a two year old son, and it’s anyone’s guess trying to figure who he may be frightened of, and who he won’t have issues with. He has no problems with the Chucky Cheese character (although at 1 he did), but he was very scared seeing characters like Tigger and Winnie the Pooh at the park. However, he had no problems with those with human faces, like Aladdin, Disney princesses, etc Something that worked somewhat was a few months before our trip, we bought him a plush Mickey Mouse doll. We also watched lots of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse just to sort of visually get him comfortable with the images. Interestingly enough, he had NO problems meeting Mickey Mouse and in fact, was trying to rush him to our table at a character dining! So that may work for you. The good news is that outside of a character table service, you have to walk up to them (like at a Meet and Greet), they normally don’t just walk up to you (invading his precious space-smile). Even at the parades I’d say they keep a comfortable distance. Also, in come cases we’d hold him when greeting the characters, and that seemed to go over better than having them stand there
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alone when they walk up. Of course, if your son is, say, 8, that might not work (smile). Good Luck! Hopefully he’ll be ready to go come August!
First time Disneyland planner and I feel overwhelmed just looking into planning. I have two 10 year olds and a 5 year old what are the best deals and places to visit and stay? - Kimberly from OH With the recent expansion project’s completion, there is now more to see and do than ever before so it’s nice to begin planning in advance so you are able to experience everything Disneyland Resort has to offer! First and foremost, I highly recommend selecting a Disneyland Resort Hotel for your accommodations. With three unique options, there is a Disneyland Resort hotel to suit nearly every budget and nothing beats staying right in the middle of the magic! There are also several Good Neighbor Hotels in the area which have been approved as being up to Disney standards. I have attached a video in which myself and some fellow panelists talk about the benefits of staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel in hopes that it will help you make a decision! As far as the best deals, in my experience, they are found directly through Disney! I am always sure to frequent the Disneyland Special Offers webpage as promotions and deals are announced periodically throughout the year. Whether you are interested in a full vacation package including tickets and room...or a room-only reservation, this is the best place to start! You can also order a free vacation planning DVD which offers some great insight on the resort as a whole and can really help when planning! Also, be sure to check out these Pre-Arrival Tips. Of course, you can always come right back here to ask me any questions you may think of as you begin planning! As a Mom who travels to Disneyland quite often, I have lots of tips and advice to help you out along the way.
My son wanted to visit the Disneyland region for his 16th birthday, but we have NO idea on how to plan for a Disneyland trip. We are on a tight budget but still want to enjoy everything the parks have to offer. - John from PA Hi there John! Now is the perfect time to visit Disneyland because with the recent expansion at California Adventure Park including Cars Land and Buena Vista Street along with exciting new things at Disneyland...”The Happiest Place on Earth Just Got Happier.” The key to a successful Disneyland vacation is advanced planning! I recommend beginning months in advance if possible. You can start by ordering a
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Disney Parks Planning DVD online which will give you lots of information and will help you easily transition into the planning phase of your vacation. There are many factors to consider when planning: time of year, accommodations, duration of your trip, dining. By browsing the official Disneyland website, you’ll be able to research everything that Disneyland Resort has to offer before making your decisions. With advanced planning and a few tricks, a Disneyland vacation can be more affordable than you may think! There are 3 uniquely priced hotels located on Disneyland property, and there are also numerous Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels scattered within walking distance from the parks! I recently answered a question here on the panel and in my response, I included some tips and tricks on how to stretch your dollar when vacationing to Disneyland
How far of a walk is it to the parks from the Disneyland Hotel? Which Disneyland resort has the best pools? - Cathy from OH The walk to the Parks from the Disneyland Hotel is about 10 minutes through Downtown Disney. As a Disneyland Resort hotel guest, you also have the perk of being able to cut through the Grand Californian to use the exclusive entrance into the back of California Adventure. In addition, the Disneyland Monorail Station is located a few steps from the Disneyland Hotel and you can hop aboard for a nonstop ride into Disneyland Park’s Tomorrowland! As far as pools are concerned, I personally like the setup at both the Grand Californian AND Disneyland Hotel. The Redwood Pool area at GC is very relaxing and subdued, although there are two water slides for the kiddos. Cabanas line the walkways and gentle instrumental guitar melodies fill the air. There’s even a quiet Mariposa Pool for extra relaxation! The newly-redesigned pool area at Disneyland Hotel is over the top and is the best for families with children. The monorail slides and water play areas certainly pay homage to a classic Disneyland and the vibe here is more upbeat and lively than that of the Grand Californian’s pools! There’s even a Minnie Mouse Hot Tub! This all new immersive water play area is the hub that connects Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar and Tangoroa Terrace Restaurant. All that said, I think my vote would have to go to Disneyland Hotel!!! • from Disney World Forum
THE VOICE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY’S PRINCESS AURORA DISCUSSES HER BELOVED FILM, THE FIVE DS, PINK, BLUE, AND WORKING WITH WALT
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Fifty-five years ago, there were just two Disney princesses. Snow White and Cinderella had each captured audience’s hearts and asserted the animated feature as a significant art form. Then came Sleeping Beauty, which Disney and his studio had been considering for film treatment for many years. What helped move the project from development to production was the discovery of Mary Costa singing around the piano at a dinner party. Mary Costa appears in front of a bank of colorful concept art. Costa voiced Princess Aurora in Disney’s 1959 animated classic “Sleeping Beauty.” Singing had already brought Costa success at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, on Edgar Bergen’s radio show with Charlie McCarthy, in commercials, and in UCLA concerts with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. But being picked by Walt Disney himself to play Princess Aurora would secure the 22-yearold Costa a place in cinema history. Though Costa would go on to a long and successful career as an opera singer of international renown, perhaps her biggest claim to fame has remained her vocal performance as the radiant songstress friendly to forest creatures. While her operatic career has taken her all over the globe for various performances and accolades, Costa would be the first to recognize the special enduring appeal of her Disney movie. The night before this interview, Costa participated in a discussion panel as part of the opening night ceremonies for Sleeping Beauty’s three-week engagement at Hollywood’s El Captain Theatre.
How familiar were you with Disney films prior to making Sleeping Beauty? Mary Costa: One of my very first movies when I was six years old was Snow White and, oh goodness, I loved it. I paraded around my house with bath towels like a cape until my mother made me a royal blue velvet cape that was, to this day, my favorite present ever received. I just adored that. I had no idea that I would ever grow up to be a Disney princess, but that was my first touch with Disney. Anything that came out by Disney I always saw. How did it feel to be invited into the princess canon, with Snow White and Cinderella already being such beloved characters? It was absolutely marvelous. But you know, if I had not been at a dinner party the night before I auditioned and hadn’t been heard singing around the piano, they might have shelved this project. They had been looking for a voice for Princess Aurora for three years. And so Walt was really going to shelve the project if he didn’t find a voice very soon. I’m so very honored and thankful that I was available. Do you have a favorite part of the film? Well, I really love so many parts of the film. I love when they’re making the birthday cake and the dress. I adore that. And I love Diablo the bird -- I get so fascinated by that bird. Probably the scene that makes me laugh is in the woods when Aurora is so dreamily talking to the Prince and he wants to see her again. And she says “No, never”, and he says, “Never?!”, and she says “Maybe someday”, and he says “Tomorrow?” and she says “No, this evening!” (laughs) I love that. I think it’s very feminine, particularly if you have a crush on somebody.
Maybe my very favorite part is the first bird call in the woods. When I went into my audition and met [composer] George Bruns, he was trying to relax me before we started recording. He said, “Do you do bird calls?” And I said, “Well, if you have another bird here, maybe I do.” And we laughed, but he said, “Let me play this melody for you and you kind of do a bird call in a high voice on this melody.” I did that and he loved it right from the beginning. And we recorded it. That scene in the woods starts and it gives me chills down my back. I got to be such friends with the godmothers and Maleficent. And the Prince [Bill Shirley] -- he was so shy and we all had just genuine crushes on that Prince. He was really cute. Did you get a chance to work with them much while recording? I did. They all had such a funny sense of humor. We all loved to hear Maleficent [Eleanor Audley] record because she wasn’t that tall but when she was using that voice in front of a microphone it was like 9 feet tall. Did you have a background in opera yet when you recorded Sleeping Beauty? You know, I didn’t really have very much vocal training. Everything was natural, because that was my first major part. I talked to Walt Disney on the phone so long because he didn’t want to be influenced by my personality and person. He gave me so many directions and I got to know him and he would tease me and everything. One day I said “Would you tell me please why you chose my voice? I know you’ve heard many beautiful voices. Why did you choose me?” And he said, “Because your voice was like an extension of speech. It was not puffed up and you didn’t put extra color into it. You just sang with a warm tone from your heart. It intrigued me because it was like you just stopped talking and started taking it at a higher register. It was like an extension of speech.” Walt said to me one day, “Has it always been your dream to be a singer?” And I said, “Yes, it has been.” And he said, “And a dream starts with a D.” And I said, “Yes, a D.” And then he said, “You know what you have to add? 3 more Ds. You have to have Dedication, Determination, and Discipline to wrap it up.” And that’s what he had in all of his films, in everything he decided to do. He was meticulous, a perfectionist. The reason I’m telling you this is because [Sleeping Beauty] started a work ethic for me that traveled through my entire career. I had not heard many operas when I started singing in Los Angeles for the Guild Opera. And I sang The Bartered Bride with full orchestra, staged and everything, for 6,000 schoolchildren. When I did that, I knew that that was meant for me to do. I heard only one other person before I began to sing a lot Leontyne Price sing the Dialogue of the Carmelites. But I had learned through Disney that you should be in no competition with anyone else, only with yourself. Because if you imitate, that’s poor. Everyone has a God-given gift and if you’ve been given the gift of singing, you must do it the best you can do it. You must not be a copy of anyone else. So I was sitting in the audience last night and thought, you know, the 5th D would be Disney himself, Walt Disney himself. Because he really established that work ethic and it traveled with me throughout my career. I sang 44 roles and never heard anyone sing any of the parts that I did. So that was what I could do with myself. Looking back on your amazing career, does it ever get to you that you are most well-known for playing Aurora? No, it doesn’t. If it had been a different part... But when I saw it last night and I heard it, I was extremely pleased. And
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when I am called to the great beyond, I’m glad that people will remember me this way.
to take the blue. But I said to her, “What is the color of the last gown you see the princess in?”
One of the main reasons I love it is because it keeps me in contact to motivate children. I go into classrooms and they say, “The voice of Sleeping Beauty is going to come!” I just absolutely love it because they are really warm with me. I play the Singing Lady with them and have them sing their questions to me and I sing back to them.
Is it pink?
This has been marvelous. I stopped singing in 1986 as far as performances. [Back then], I felt like I was always having to protect my voice and couldn’t speak a lot or have personal relationships. Now because of Sleeping Beauty, I can do that and talk to children and work for charities and everything. So Sleeping Beauty has kept me going, whereas for a lot of people when they stop their operatic career, it’s gone. Princess Aurora is often considered a passive heroine. Do you agree?
And since I was a small child, I just adored pink. But then you know I had that wonderful royal blue cape that they made for me. It would be hard for me to choose. What do you prefer? Pink. Well, I must tell you that I lean towards the pink. But when I say that, I get sorrowful because I love the blue too! Well, there is the one scene where the fairies are fight between colors and the dress ends of being a mix of the two. (Laughs) When they messed it up like that, I didn’t like it!
I feel that she is a very, very strong character. She has been put with godmothers who are very colorful and you know they have talked to her about many things. She plays with all the animals and has a vivid imagination, dreaming of a prince.
You know it’s very interesting because with John Lasseter and Tony Baxter, who is head of Imagineering. Both of these gentlemen, their favorite picture is Sleeping Beauty and they will not allow a sequel to be made to it, which I am delighted.
I think she is a beautiful personification of femininity. She’s very strong -- she absolutely wanted to come back into the cottage and tell them that she had found the love of her life and that she was going to go with him. So it’s a very layered character. I love all of the princesses, I think they’re all different, and if I had to choose, I would choose her.
Except for the segment in Enchanted Tales.
I had a wonderful thing happen last night. It’s happened to me about four times before, but I sat in the audience and when I walked out, people were asking me to sign some things. I went behind the table to sign and this lady who was about 35 came over and said, “Ms. Costa, you won’t remember me, but I came and talked to you when I was 5 years old and I want you to meet my daughter.” And she had her daughter who was 5 years old behind her. She said, “I want her to know Aurora, so I brought her tonight.” I just think it’s a very healthy character for young people to see. What is your favorite part of the new DVD? I am excited about everything that they have offered. If there is something you want to see or see again, you can stop it and it’s focused right on there. Then if you want to sing along, they have the words on the screen. And you can play that game - I love that. There are so many things. I couldn’t wait to be in the audience last night to see it done on the big screen. One thing I think is absolutely gorgeous is that they have included the full Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé. I love that. And I know the young people will love all these fast-moving things and wild things they’ve got with the dragon and going through these almost chamber of horrors (laughs). You’ll love it! Will we see much of you in the new DVD’s bonus features? Yes, you will. I have done a new interview and you will be seeing me. I am so proud to be on it. Do you prefer the dress pink or blue? (Laughs) I love that! Someone asked me that last night because they saw me in a pink coat and they had on a blue coat and so they said, “Which do you prefer?” And, actually, it’s very difficult. I wear both and I have a pink and a blue coat too. And I’m going to do a presentation in New York and I’m going
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Yes!(Laughs) Yes, it is.
Oh, goodness sake. And they’ll never do it again because it didn’t work, and they got a lot of criticism. You know, with a fairy tale like this, your imagination takes over. And I think it spoils it because everyone knows what their imagination does and where they want to take them – that’s what a fairy tale is all about, that’s the magic of it. What do you think sets Sleeping Beauty apart from other Disney films? I think that it was ahead of its time when it came out. They had real masters working on every part of it, for instance, Marc Davis did the animation for my character all the way through the film. On some of the others, other artists have taken over, and it changes. Their faces aren’t quite the same. They try to make them the same but they’re not. And I think the music, the way the story line was done, and particularly the artistry of Eyvind Earle in the backgrounds. With this Bluray, they come to life, it’s just a very beautiful depth of color. It was Walt’s favorite movie. He loved the Tchaikovsky music and the way they adapted it. Because of all these elements and the great people that have worked on it, I think it will always remain fresh to every generation. Seeing that Aurora is silent for a good deal of the movie, do you see any physical mannerisms taken from you? I think so. This is funny, I think you’ll be amused by this – my mother lived to be 101 and in her late nineties I was living in Florida and I took her to a small theater to see Sleeping Beauty. It was packed and we were right in the middle and in the middle of the scene in the middle of the woods she all of a sudden said, “Oh, Mary! That looks just like you!” And I had to put my hand over her mouth. I got so tickled, but nobody knew who we were, they were all so into the scene. I think that there was a lot of me in that character because Marc Davis came in every time I was recording and sketched me and because my father always spoke with his hands I never could sing or do a line without using my hands so I see a lot of myself in that film. I truly do.
How much one-on-one time did you spend working with Walt? It was really one-on-one on the telephone for a long, long time. It was over seven months. We talked a lot and it’s very strange because I really got to know him and he got to know me. Now I think it was almost better because I wasn’t kind of awed by his presence, and I think it was the same with him. One day, I had just finished recording and I had a very big scene coming up in a couple of days. I looked over on the soundstage and there he was. And I had talked to him so much that I just ran over and gave him a big hug. We had a really sweet conversation. When I talked to him on the phone, he would never hang up and say goodbye, he would say “Don’t catch a cold!” When I went over to him the first time I met him, he said “I wanted to come and wish you some luck. You’re going to do ‘Once Upon a Dream’ and that’s my favorite melody. Don’t catch a cold!” And I said to him, “You always say ‘Don’t catch a cold!’” And because I wanted to make him laugh, I said “A bird doesn’t sing because it’s happy, it’s happy because it sings. And that’s the way I am!” And he said, “Okay, Happy Bird. Just don’t catch a cold.” (Laughs) That was so funny. I used to call him Mr. Disney and he said, “Until you can call me Walt, I’m going to call you Happy Bird.” Then one day I call him Mr. D and he said, “No, no. ‘Walt’.” So finally after that, I did call him Walt. Personally, the part of the extras that I really love is hearing him talk and explain a number of things because there’s mischief. He was always such a tease and had such a sense of humor. In the beginning, he didn’t really want to go in front of the cameras. Then when he got there, he was just wonderful. Was there a lot of excitement concerning Disneyland going on while you were working on Sleeping Beauty? Well, it kind of got a little bit slower because he was all into that, and he still had to approve everything that was done. I mean every drawing, everything. So it made the work go a little slower, but we were all excited about Disneyland and that was just a phenomenal thing. When Disneyland opened in 1955, Sleeping Beauty’s castle was already there. How did it feel to have a castle named after a character you had only started to work on? Well, they talked about that last night. They said if he hadn’t finished the movie, then what? But he did! And now they’re going to open that castle again for the 50th anniversary next year. That’s going to be wonderful. I’m so excited about that. I think they’re going to open it very soon, so I might be in on that. What other favorite memories do you have of Sleeping Beauty? You know, most people think that I did a voiceover. And actually I was at an event with Marc Davis eight years ago and we were sitting in directors’ chairs and signing whatever memorabilia was brought to us. A lady came over and said, “Miss Costa, how does it feel to be a voiceover for a famous Disney princess?” And Marc Davis stopped her and said, “Madam, the voices were the ocean of sound upon which we animated.” And that is something I really treasure because, you see, they animated upon us. We gave them the colors and they animated. We were not voiceovers.
Are you often recognized as the voice of Sleeping Beauty? Oh, yes! When I go in to talk to the children, I always talk (puts on a higher voice) like this and they know it. And we’ll sing a little bit. I always let them sing “Once Upon A Dream” to me because they love to do it. And we talk and then we devise different voices – they love to do that. And then I’ll put a little scene on and I’ll have them do a scene with me. And then we’ll play a wonderful game - my parents used to do this with me – I’ll start a story and then I’ll stop and then I’ll point at somebody and they’ll have to pick it up and take it wherever they’re going to take it and then they stop and they point at someone else. We’ve had so much fun in the classrooms with that. Do you visit classrooms often? I do every time I can. When I’m in my city, Knoxville, I do it as often as I can. Then I do charity work and give big Disney events for abused children. How did it feel to become a Disney Legend? That was one of the most exciting times of my life. That was absolutely wonderful, because Marc Davis was still here and how close I was with him and his wife, Alice Davis. And, of course, Roy Disney – he was a young man when I started, the same age as I am, and it’s fun to still have him as a very dear friend. I tell you, the whole thing has been a “Once Upon A Dream” experience. You look back fifty years and you think there must be a reason why it still causes quite a stir when they release it again. What other highlights do you have from your nonDisney career? Mrs. Kennedy [First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy] asked me personally to sing at John F. Kennedy’s memorial. That was such a memorable experience. At the time, it was like I was moving through a dream. It was at the sports arena in Los Angeles and it was packed, and those people were so grieved that they could hardly breathe. It was just a sea of sad faces. And I had to learn the “Libera Me” from the Verdi Requiem in three days. I didn’t want to look in my book to sing it, so I started immediately when she requested that I sing. She and the President had heard me singing The Star-Spangled Banner on the Academy Awards and they had heard some other things that I had done. She asked my manager if I could do it, and I was so honored to do that. I learned it with my coach, and I sang it with my head up. I didn’t know that they had recorded it and that it was sent on television to Russia and all over the world. And so this last year, I was presented with it from a friend who got it from the Kennedy Library and I am just so thrilled to have it. And then the following year, she came backstage to see me and the Metropolitan Opera and thanked me. It was such a delight to meet her. She was very, very lovely and feminine and she almost spoke (whispers) like this - very softly like that. That would probably be the most memorable experience. What plans do you have coming up in the future? Well, right now, I’m going to do some very interesting things which will bring me back to places I have performed and I am very excited about it. I am going to New York to represent this film, and then I am going to Rome, Italy, and then I’m going to London, and it’s all for Sleeping Beauty. from UltimateDisney.com by Renata Joy
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princesas de los muertos PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING BY
HAILEY NOWAK
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hese princesses of the dead ventured over to the beautiful graffiti alleyways of Los Feliz, California. Inspired by a mixture of Dia de los Muertos, Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Voodoo Man from Princess and the Frog, these lovely ladies embraced the dark side of beauty.
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Left: Blazer, Nordstrom Patterned crop top, Forever 21 High-waisted Shorts, Forever 21 Black booties, Top Shop Right: Top hat, The Disney Store Jacket, Forever 21 Black leotard, BEBE High-waisted jeans, American Apparel Black boots, Aldo
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Imagine the Cruella De Vil you know is merely misunderstood. Before her obsession with all 101 dalmatians, she aspired for greater things but, when her only true love crushed her, Cruella’s heart turned to stone. Cruella then locked herself away in Hell Hall to live fabulously lonely with only her stylish wardrobe to love her. 46 | ALL EARS IN
de Mon PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAILEY NOWAK STYLING BY VANESSA KINDER
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Accessories from San Clemente Antiques & Decor Cruella De Vil Faux Fur Coat from Junqies Thrift Shop A-line dress from Old Navy Heels from Target
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EXCE RPT FROM
The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ she said, dramatically, ‘puppies are arriving earlier than expected. Mr and Mrs Dearly ask you to remember that Missis has never before been a mother. She needs absolute quiet.’
‘Dalmatians are always born white,’ said Mrs Dearly, glaring at Cruella. ‘The spots come later.’
There was an instant silence, broken only by a stifled sneeze. Then the guests rose, drank a whispered toast to the young mother, and tiptoed from the house.
‘It’d be quite easy,’ said Cruella. ‘I’ve drowned dozens of my cat’s kittens. She always chooses some wretched alley-cat for their father so they’re never worth keeping.
All except Cruella de Vil. When she reached the hall she went straight to Nanny Butler, who was seeing the guests out, and demanded:
‘Surely you leave her one kitten?’ said Mrs Dearly.
‘Where are those puppies?’ Nanny Butler had no intention of telling, but Cruella heard the Dearly voices’ and ran upstairs. This time she was wearing a black satin dress with ropes of pearls, but the same absolutely simple white mink cloak. She had kept it round her all through dinner, although the room was very warm (and the pepper very hot). ‘I must, I must see the darling puppies,’ she cried. The cupboard door was a little open. The Dearlys were inside, soothing Missus. Three puppies had been born before Nanny Butler, on bringing Missus a nourishing chicken dinner, had discovered what was happening. Cruella flung open the door and stared down at the three puppies. ‘But they’re mongrels – all white, no spots at all!’ she cried. ‘You must drown them at once.’
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‘And we wouldn’t drown them even if they were mongrels,’ said Mrs Dearly, indignantly.
‘If I’d done that, I’d be overrun with cats,’ said Cruella. ‘Are you sure those horrid little white rats are pure Dalmatian puppies?’ ‘Quite sure,’ snapped Mrs Dearly. ‘Now please go away, you’re upsetting Missus.’ And indeed Missus was upset. Even with the Dearlys there to protect her and her puppies, she was a little afraid of this tall woman with blackand-white hair who stared so hard. And that poor cat who had lost all her kittens! Never, Never, would Missus forget that! (And one day she was to be glad she remembered it.) ‘How long will it be before the puppies are old enough to leave their mother?’ asked Cruella. ‘In case I want to buy some.’ ‘Seven or eight weeks,’ said Mr Dearly. ‘But there won’t be any for sale.’ Then he shut the cupboard door in Cruella’s face and Nanny Butler firmly showed her out of the house.
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LOOK AHEAD NEXT ISSUE 1. Dylan Bonner’s mashup of The Little Mermaid and Frozen. The Art Issue will feature some of the most talented illustrators to look out for. 2. We’re also featuring some fun (and delicious) treats shaped like our favorite Disney characters. 3. One of our original contributors, Marisa Mercurio, is back with an illustration to accompany a snippet from Peter Pan. 4. Miss Avery Canty transforms into Joy from Inside Out and prances around LA.
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